Conspiracy Theories

A lot of people have been posting about how to deal with others who believe in conspiracy theories… it’s been on my mind, because some of those fears that generate various theories belong to some close friends of mine. I may not agree with the conclusions drawn from a deeply complex system of conjecture, yet I don’t believe these people deserve to be mocked either.

How do we address these matters? From the vantage point of licit argumentation, we must listen. We must try to understand the position, interpretation of facts, and discern if there is any weight. After all, common opinion doesn’t necessitate truth. We must examine facts as they are, and hear them, even if they counter our point. We must never be frustrated with facts.

Further, we must not demoralize people automatically for their concerns or views. It deflects attention from the view and replaces it with a personal attack. In all likelihood that convinces no-one and hardens the position further.

Lastly, we must be willing to examine our own motives in discussion on these points. We are not merely agreeing with the powerful position to avoid the fall-out of disagreement; we must view the truth as it really is, for the right reasons.

But to me, none of these suggestions solve the polarization that exists today, that didn’t exist years ago. They merely offer us a good disposition to dialogue and see (distinguish) the person from the view.

The real reason, I suspect, that such views exist today is very simple: a lack of trust. We do not trust authority, and authority does not trust us. Why? Do I need to list the reasons? Hardly. So perhaps we can look at these conspiracy theories as a symptom of something deeper: the narratives are formed from a place of distrust and antagonistic fear-based anticipation.

I think, maybe, we as a culture and society therefore need to address a world where we automatically do not trust one another. Start this in the concrete relationships you already have. This does not mean we trust when trust has been broken. Nor does it mean that we give up on the possibility of it being restored.

In the Gospel, it seems clear to me that Christ not only wants to restore our trust in Him, but also in one another. When He hands His mission over to the Apostles — those to whom He chose — He sees a rejection of their ministry as a rejection of Him; their persecution as a persecution of Himself.

When the people murmur against Moses, it displeases God, since Moses is only conducting himself according to God’s instructions. Therefore it is God to whom they complain against. Elsewhere, leaders in scripture become corrupt, such as Eli who fails to discipline his morally corrupt sons. In this case the people complain, and the leaders reject the prophetic voice of Samuel.

The solution therefore to restore trust, so that discernment as a society can be accomplished, is complex. It is a two-way street, requiring reconciliation, humility, and not merely wrathful resentful condemnations from both sides of the fence. It requires challenging (reproving) in tandem with compassion, meekness, and humility.

It requires a great deal of time and patience, since healing any wound this large cannot be fixed with a superficial bandage. It involves an openness to seeing things in a new way: not just in regard to conspiracy or legitimate theories, but in regard to how we see the person or community we rub up against.

God intends division in our world to cast out false unity/peace. Yet He never wills that His own body, the Church, be divided. Rather, His prayer is that we be one.

If we therefore stand back and expect others to move first towards facilitating that unity of mind and heart in the Church, then we are part of the problem. The sinner may have to first repent, but it rarely happens without one instigating the hope that comes from the offering of mercy and understanding.

Therefore, if we see ourselves as right and them as wrong, then perhaps we’ve got the right theory, but not the right solution. Perhaps we’ve got the right idea, but not a concern for the Unity Christ prayed for before His crucifixion.

Let’s seek to be peacemakers amongst those we disagree with, seeking their good and not merely resenting what they believe.

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Photo: Tom Carnegie, Unsplash / PD-US

Fr. Christopher Pietraszko

Fr. Christopher Pietraszko

Fr. Christopher Pietraszko serves in the Diocese of London, Ontario, Canada. He has a blog and podcast at Fides et Ratio; he also blogs at Father Pietraszko’s Corner.

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2 thoughts on “Conspiracy Theories”

  1. Hmmm, I do want to believe this is the correct path to follow. But the fact is the Rubicon has been crossed, the divide is too great and too deep.
    The political and theological Left seeks the destruction of the political and theological right. They want scorched earth revenge and they shall have it. Ask the DNC, ask the Jesuits.
    I intend to resist both. Come Hell or high water.

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